If you’re looking for the best MacBook for coding, there’s going to be one that will suit you, but the company’s range is wider than you may think. You should take your time and consider your needs carefully when deciding on the best MacBook for coding tasks. After all, though there are only two strands to the range—MacBook Air and MacBook Pro—and there are a total of four screen sizes and four different designs to choose from. And that’s before we get to the number of colors (there are 11 when you factor in the subtle changes between models).
In this article, we are going to walk you through the best MacBooks for coding in 2023. These machines are excellent in their performance and you can buy them for under £3000. Check out the list and choose the best one according to your needs.
Without further ado, here are the the best apple MacBooks for coding in 2023:
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch
Why it’s the best MacBook for coding
Apple’s MacBook Pro range hosts its fastest, most powerful laptops. Unlike the MacBook Air, the Pro models all have fans built in so that even the most demanding coding programs can run at speed and at length. The 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with either the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, some of the most effective silicon Apple has made. As such, even with the laptop going all out with power-hungry programming tasks, it’s rare to hear the fan whirr into life. The design of this big-screened beauty is Apple at its best: Sleek lines, attractive colors and a slim profile. This model has the same Magic Keyboard, as Apple calls it, as the MacBook Air M2 and the 14-inch Pro, with the full-height keys that makes it easy to write code on. But this means there’s no room for the Touch Bar, the slim touch-sensitive multifunction light strip. If you’re a fan of this, check out the 13-inch MacBook Pro below.
But for performance, this laptop can’t be beaten. It has more RAM as standard than the Air or 13-inch Pro, and battery life that beats the 14-inch Pro by four hours. Like that model, it has what Apple calls Liquid Retina XDR, that is, there are miniLEDs which light up the screen in a particularly punchy way. The display is so big, the webcam is placed in a cut-out at the top. If you’re not a fan of this, the 13-inch Pro or M1 Air are for you. Of all the Mac laptops, this is the powerhouse. So, If you are looking for the best MacBook for coding with fast speed and large storage space, this machine can be an ideal option for you.
Pros
- Stunning display
- Outstanding performance
- Apple’s design at its best
Cons
- Pricey
- No Touch Bar
2. Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch
Why it’s the best MacBook for coding
If you don’t need the extra real estate of the 16-inch Pro or simply can’t run to the price of that machine, this is an excellent MacBook for coding. It has the same outstanding high-contrast, super-bright display as its bigger sibling. On the other hand, the 14.2-inch size makes this laptop that bit more manageable. It also has the customization options that only this and the bigger Pro do: Storage up to 8TB and RAM up to 64GB.
Performance matches that of the 16-incher, which features the most potent Apple-built chips yet in a MacBook. Depending on your coding tasks, you can choose from the fast M1 Pro and even faster M1 Max. Oh, and it has MagSafe (including an attractive braided cable), plus three USB-C connectors, an HDMI port and an SDXC card slot. Those last two are exclusive to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Battery life here is up to 17 hours—way more than the M1 MacBook Air’s 12 hours but shorter than the others in the range. And, of course, there’s that handsome new look with a bigger Apple logo on the lid and the words “MacBook Pro” stenciled on the base.
Pros
- Blazing speed
- Latest design
- MagSafe
Cons
- Notch in display
- Battery life not Apple’s best
3. Apple M2 chip MacBook Pro
Why it’s the best MacBook for coding
The Apple MacBook Pro 2022 delivers mind-blowing performance thanks to its M2 processor along with class-leading battery life. The device offers almost all the latest or trendy features at the lowest price. The reason behind this endorsement is that the device is available for £1,385. Although the price is less compared to other MacBooks. But it does not mean that you are going to get fewer and lower specs. The device comes with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage space which are enough to make it the best MacBook for coding purpose. You can get a fast experience with enough storage capacity. Other specs that make this MacBook an excellent option for coding are included an 8-core CPU with 10-core GPU. It offers a 13 inches display which is comparatively small but gives your device a small and slim look, making it eye-catching. As the device is small and is designed lightweight, it will be easy for you to carry the device anywhere.
Pros
- Blazing-fast performance
- Amazing battery life
- Sharp, vibrant displaComfortable keyboard
Cons
- Same old design
- 720p webcam
- Limited ports
4. Apple M2 chip MacBook Air
Why it’s the best MacBook for coding
Like all other mentioned devices or MacBooks, this is another best MacBook for coding. The new MacBook Air is a breath of fresh you-know-what, and that’s because Apple paired an even faster M2 chip with a design that’s markedly thinner and lighter. Carrying this 2.7-pound notebook around and using it, this is a laptop that reminds us of the iconic original Air that Steve Jobs pulled out of a manilla envelope 14 years ago. Something this light can’t be that powerful — can it? Yes it can.
The MacBook Air M2 is simply the best MacBook for coding based on our testing. You get stellar performance, a vibrant display and superb battery life all wrapped up in a design that is delightfully portable. Yes, $1,119 is a steep price, but we would easily recommend this system over the $999 MacBook Air M1 staying in the lineup because of its better performance and display, along with sharper webcam and MagSafe charging.
The 8-core CPU and 16-core GPU makes it the best MacBook for coding tasks. Other notable features or specs of this device include 10 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. RAM is enough to get a fast user experience. However, storage space is comparatively low, but enough if you do not have big data to store.
All in all, the MacBook Air M2 is the best MacBook for coding for those willing to spend a little bit more for a great laptop. It delivers top-notch performance, over 16 hours of battery life and a bright and colorful display all in a delightfully portable design.
Pros
- Wonderfully portable design
- Bright and colorful 13.6-inch display
- Strong M2 performance
- Impressively long battery life
- 1080p webcam
Cons
- Pricier than previous model
- Notch a bit distracting
- Supports only single external monitor
See also: 17 Best MacBook Air M2 Tips & Tricks You Should Know About
5. MacBook Air with M1
Why it’s the best MacBook for coding
The MacBook Air was always the best MacBook for coding tasks, but now it’s better for coding tasks than ever before. Apple’s decision to replace its Intel processors with its own Apple Silicon, starting with the M1 chip in the MacBook Air, is reaping serious rewards. This laptop’s over 14 hours of battery life is the best for a MacBook Air ever. Plus, the M1 delivers crazy-fast performance, so much so that it can run serious codes smoothly.
Pros
- Super-fast performance
- Incredibly long battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Still has thick bezels
- Light on ports
Conclusion
To choose between the best MacBook for coding, we started with extensive personal experience: All the computers here have been road-tested and reviewed in some way. Then, we added in-depth research by cross-referencing third-party reviews with specs sheets, first-party benchmarks and user experiences. Rest assured, we know the ins and outs of all these machines, so you can choose the perfect one for you.
See also: The 4 Best MacBooks for Business of 2023